There is a fine line between the erotic and pornographic, and each of us draws our own. In this little exhibition we find no lines in the sand, just some interesting art. Photography, painting, drawing and one encased object of desire provide the viewer with a variety of interpretations of the verb Love.
The majority of exhibits involve photography. It is hard to go past the large black and white Change Metamorphosis, Transformation IX by Garth Knight. It depicts a nude held in a web of complex knots (macramé to the max!) to present an intriguing, mesmerizing image. And you'll enjoy meeting the collection of pictures depicting grown-ups at play in a gold fields brothel as photographed by Karron Bridges. Mark Catts also provides us with a collection of playful photos, only these involve children's toys placed in not-so-innocent, grown-up poses!
But the one photographic exhibit not to be missed, which I almost did, is Nape. This black book contains a collection of excellent photographs by Karl Ockelford aimed at that public, private, erotic, ordinary area of the body, the nape of the neck. Beautiful and exotic.
Anthony Muir's painting Sicilian Boys is the prize winner and it's a deserving exhibit. The paint is applied in a sensuous manner while figures are drawn with delicate line. The scene presents a collection of figures in various stages of undress and odd poses, in a domestic environment. There is no defined narrative but sufficient information and areas of 'blank' space is provided for the viewer to develop their own scenario. I also appreciated the reverse figure studies of oil paint on nylon mesh by Martin Hein. The technique, imagery and colour works together very well.
Good drawing is always a delightful find and I found some rippers here. Fearful Symmetry by Campbell Whyte involves 18 pencil on canvas panels that define, or imply erotic poses and pictures. The line drawings can be appreciated from any point of view while a few host some additional 'decoration' of glitter or decals or painted floral motifs. But I kept coming back to Andrew Nicholls' large drawing, composed of tiny black dots over six large sheets of white paper. The wonderful Wild Man, with his cheeky smile and muscular legs, stole my heart! This caveman hunk will appeal to everyone.
Of all the exhibits, Adrienne Kneebone's Territory Maid continues to haunt my mind. Here we find a beautiful pair of delicate black knickers that have collected an awful lot of native grass. They sit safely in glass case like a museum exhibit. There are so many interpretations of this work ranging from the jovial, 'saving the evidence of a consenting roll in the hay' to the horrific, 'rape of the black woman &/or her land'. It's a powerful piece.
Do catch the display, it's not so much erotic or exotic as it is an exhibition of some very good artistic efforts.